EXCLUSIVE: Le Toux makes it clear leaving wasn't his idea

Sebastien Le Toux, the best player in the first two years of the Union's existence, was traded to Vancouver Tuesday and made it clear he wasn't happy with the way it went down. (Times staff / COLIN KERRIGAN)

WEST CHESTER -- Sebastien Le Toux tried his best Tuesday to slink into a favorite West Chester haunt, under the guise of the afternoon lunch rush.

No chance.

Servers spotted Le Toux, wearing a coral-colored hoodie, from the moment he walked through the door. Rather than greet his casual friends, Le Toux said goodbye.

The Union traded Le Toux to Vancouver for allocation money, shipping out their franchise player for nothing more than cash considerations. Per club policy, the amount the Union received from the Whitecaps was not disclosed.

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Le Toux's departure had been speculated for weeks, beginning with his seven-day trial with English Premier League side Bolton. Late Monday, a rumor had the 28-year-old getting shipped to the Pacific Northwest. Turns out it was legitimate.

"It's about trying to a build a club around the future, not around one player," Nowak said. "... We have and we will continue to build the franchise. It's not about one player. It's about the foundation.

"Feelings are not in my job description. I have to make sure the team is good ... and that the team is going to have a future."

Across the street from the West Chester coffee joint at which Le Toux said he met with Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz this offseason and made a plea for a contract extension, the French forward spoke of his unceremonious exit from the Union --- the club he helped build, goal by goal, with his right foot.

"It had gotten to the point where I said to them, to Nick, to Peter, to everyone, 'Just give me a contract and I will sign it,'" said Le Toux, who spoke exclusively with the Daily Times. "I wanted to stay in Philly. I didn't care about the money."

What followed Le Toux's pitch to Sakiewicz, who was unavailable for comment, wasn't pretty. It was nowhere near as picturesque as any of the 25 goals he scored with the Union.

The Union spent $301,000 in guaranteed compensation in two seasons for Le Toux, a pittance considering his rank among the top-five goalscorers in that time. Being unable --- or unwilling --- to sign Le Toux, who had one year remaining on his contract, to an extension meant the Union might get nothing in return for him at the end of the 2012 season.

"The only thing they wanted is the money," Le Toux said. "Being with this team and being a guy, not to build around, but to help this team, was what I wanted. ... They must have wanted to sell me for money because they needed money. We don't have a nice practice facility and that is something they promised since I am here. It's terrible.

"That's why they pushed me to Bolton -- money."

Le Toux, who does not have agent representation, said he asked Sakiewicz for a pay increase up to the neighborhood of $400,000, putting him just below the league's designated player status. In the weeks that followed, Le Toux never got an offer from the Union. Instead, he was given a chance to take a four-week tryout with Bolton, the English club.

Le Toux said he was "honored" for the Bolton trial, but his heart was with the Union. He had made a home in West Chester, where he and his longtime girlfriend Kendall lived. He adored the fan base and his teammates.

"I told them I would consider (Bolton), but I knew it wasn't good for me," Le Toux said. "I was out of shape. I hadn't kicked a ball in five weeks. I didn't want to go over there and injure myself in cold weather. What good is that for me or (the Union)?"

Le Toux said he suffered a right-foot toe injury his first practice with Bolton, but played through the pain in two further training sessions. Then, he came home ... three weeks early. Staying even one more week, Le Toux said, would have afforded him only two additional practices, so he saw no merit in it.

Upon his return for the Union's informal workouts last week, Le Toux said Nowak made him feel unwelcome. Le Toux said he was told by assistant coach John Hackworth to attend training Monday, but once there, he wasn't cleared medically. Instead, he was relegated to a stationary bicycle and free weights.

"I asked Peter (Monday at YSC) what was going on and he didn't let me talk," Le Toux said. "He started to get mad at me, telling me that I was very not respectful to leave Bolton early. I told him, 'First, I respect myself.' But I always did everything they asked me to do. I came from vacation in the Dominican Republic for the Bimbo (sponsorship) announcement. I always was respectful. ... It was like he was saying, 'I don't know if I can trust you on this team.'

"I couldn't even memorize everything he said because I was so surprised to hear it."

Less than 24 hours later --- after he had been asked by Hackworth to skip Monday's Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet, where he was to be honored --- Le Toux got the call Tuesday on his drive to YSC, informing him of the Vancouver trade.

"I'm sad because of the way I was treated. I'm disgusted," Le Toux said. "I'm sorry for the guy who already bought my jersey. Maybe he can get the refund."

While taking calls and texts from Whitecaps officials, with details of his flight this morning to Phoenix for training, Le Toux reflected on March 31, when Vancouver visits the Union at PPL Park.

"I expect to win and I expect nothing more," he said.

Le Toux said he had no regrets leaving the Union in this manner. He was an all-star in 2010, a legitimate MVP candidate in 2011 and a fan favorite. Still, he said, he would not consider a return to the Union.

"I would be happy to just retire than play for Peter again," Le Toux said.